fire of the garrison again baffled every effort. The batteries, however, continued to play till the walls, which were by no means lofty, were reduced almost to a heap of ruins ; and the natives then evacuated the place which they had so gallantly defended. General Martindale, who now took the command, advanced to attack the enemy stationed at the strong fort of Jytuk; but here again the British troops, through their too impetuous valour, were thrown into confusion, and obliged to fall back with considerable loss. At the same time, the army which was attempting to penetrate direct into Nepaul through the district of Sarun had two of its detachments surrounded and cut off; so that operations on that side were completely paralyzed.

These events produced an alarming sensation at Calcutta, while they were received with the highest exultation in all the native courts, which were watching for an opportunity to effect the downfall of British power in India. Movements were made by Sindia and other princes, which seemed to call for an increase of the corps of observation stationed in their territories. Yet the Marquis of Hastings judiciously considered, that to obtain some decisive success over the Nepaulese, and compel them to sue for peace, was the only mode by which the evil could be remedied. He therefore augmented and concentrated his force on the theatre of war. General Ochterlony, hitherto checked by the losses of the division that was to act in combination with him, began vigorous operations on the offensive. He had already compelled Ameer Sing to retire from the heights of Ramghur to those of Malown, which were also exceedingly strong. He had likewise reduced Ramghur, Bellaspore, and the other fastnesses which commanded this mountain-region. At the same time the province of Kemaoon being left unprotected, a detachment was sent under Colonel Nicolls, who besieged, and on the 25th April, 1815, took Almora, its capital. Ameer, being now closely confined to his fortified post at Malown, was obliged to capitulate, though on honourable terms, being allowed to join the main army with the troops under his charge.

The government of Nepaul were so deeply discouraged by these reverses, that notwithstanding the opposition of several chiefs, and particularly of Ameer Sing, who proposed even to seek support from the Emperor of China,

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The terms de

they determined to open a negotiation. manded by Lord Hastings were high, including the cession of all the provinces conquered in the west, and also of the Teraee or Tarryani, the border of jungle which extends along the base of the mountains. This last article formed the chief obstacle to the treaty, not so much on account of the actual value of the territory, as because most of the principal chiefs at court had assignments of land in it from which they derived their income. The marquis, considering the point to be of little consequence, had made up his mind, and given directions that it should not stand in the way of the treaty. Unluckily, the Nepaulese ambassadors had agreed to the terms and signed them, but when transmitted for ratification, the court was induced, on the above grounds, to refuse its consent. In such circumstances, there appeared no longer room for the intended concession; and no option was left but the renewal of war. This was attended with considerable inconvenience, since, in confident expectation of peace, the preparations had not only been relaxed, but even part of the military stores sold off; however, extraordinary exertions were made, and the army in January, 1816, was again ready to take the field.

The enemy had intrenched themselves in the strong pass of Chereea-ghatee, which formed the entrance into their mountain-territory; but General Ochterlony, by a skilful though laborious march, turned this position, and penetrated to Muckwanpoor, in the vicinity of which they had erected several forts and stockades. Two successive defeats convinced them of the vanity of their attempt to contend with British troops; they made overtures for a fresh negotiation, in which all the points in dispute were yielded; and in March a definitive treaty was concluded. The governor-general was then with a good grace able to grant, as a matter of favour, most of the districts for the possession of which they had been so extremely solicitous.

The contest with Nepaul having been brought to a successful termination, the Marquis of Hastings turned his views to that new system of policy which he was desirous to establish with regard to the central powers of India. It consisted partly in the renewal and extension of subsidiary alliances with the native princes, partly in the extirpation of the predatory states which had arisen in the heart of the

empire. In the former view, overtures from Bhopal, when threatened by Sindia and the Rajah of Berar, were at first well received; but, amid the distractions occasioned by the Nepaul contest, it became necessary that they should be courteously evaded. A negotiation was opened with the Rajpoot prince of Jyepore, who had made heavy complaints of having in 1806 been deserted by the English, and exposed to the depredations of the Holkar family and other plundering tribes. The treaty for some time proceeded with promptitude; but, the very knowledge that he was about to be supported by the English having overawed his enemies and averted the present danger, the deep-rooted jealousy always cherished by the native sovereigns respecting the admission of foreign troops soon revived. A powerful party exclaimed against the ministers by whom the treaty was conducted as betrayers of their country; and they thought it expedient, by advancing conditions that were inadmissible, to prevent its final conclusion.

This disappointment was compensated by a more fortunate occurrence in another quarter. Raghojee Bhonslay, rajah of Berar, died, leaving a son, Pursajee, so infirm both in mind and body, as to be incapable of maintaining even the semblance of royalty. In these circumstances, Appa Saheb, his cousin, and also presumptive heir, assumed the authority of regent, to which he seemed to possess a legitimate claim. Another chief, however, Dhurmajee Bhonsla, having formed a powerful party, rendered it doubtful whether Appa would be able to maintain himself without foreign aid. The latter, therefore, made overtures to the British for a subsidiary alliance, coupled with the condition of supporting him in the administration. This, in the present temper of the councils of Calcutta, was most readily granted. The stipulated force was to consist of six battalions of infantry and one regiment of cavalry, partly attached to the regent's person; for the maintenance of which the annual amount of seven and a half lacks of rupees was to be received in money-payments, instead of the invidious mode of territorial cession. This treaty, according to Mr. Prinsep, was viewed at Calcutta with the highest exultation, as an arrangement by which the state of Berar was finally detached from the Mahratta confederacy, and fixed in the British interests; and not as what it really was, namely, a

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mere expedient for the attainment of personal objects, and to be thrown aside as soon as these were accomplished.

The occupation of Berar afforded great facilities for operations against the predatory powers, whose main rallyingpoint was in Malwa, a hilly tract to the northward of the Nerbudda. The governor-general, however, had not yet obtained permission to root them out of that strong country, and was obliged to content himself with drawing a cordon along the southern bank of the Nerbudda, by which he hoped to prevent them from penetrating into the Decean. Unfortunately for themselves, Cheetoo and other chiefs had at this time acquired a considerable increase of strength. They had been left for several years nearly unmolested; and had even received secret assurances of support from the principal Mahratta chieftains, who were meditating a fresh attempt, with the aid of the Pindarees, to subvert the ascendency of Britain. They were, however, considerably alarmed by the appearance of the force stationed on the Nerbudda; but seeing it remain inactive, while they themselves had mustered 23,000 cavalry, they conceived it possible to penetrate at some point the extended line along which the English were posted. Accordingly, with 10,000 horsemen they crossed on the extreme right, with such rapidity that our infantry were unable either to arrest or overtake them. They then separated into two lubhurs or plundering bands, one of which proceeded due south into the territory of the nizam, and reached the banks of the Godavery. The other marched eastward, and entered the company's territory of Ganjam, where in the course of twelve days the preceding year they had killed and wounded nearly 700 persons, and carried off or destroyed property to the value of 100,000l. A third party crossed at Burhanpoor, and overran the ter ritory of the peishwa to some distance beyond Poonah.

The Pindarees had thus eluded the regular force appointed to check their inroad; yet, though they were still liable to be attacked by several detached corps that were scouring the country in different directions, they never stationed sentries, nor took any similar precaution against an evil to which they were always exposed. While the large body who had reached the Godavery were deliberating on their future course, Major M'Dowal, with a body of light troops, came upon them so unexpectedly that they had re

ceived a discharge of firearms before almost a man of them was mounted; and they were obliged to fly, abandoning nearly all their horses and booty. One bold chieftain, with 260 troopers, crossed the peninsula, swept along the western shore, and, ascending the Tuptee, reached his home with less indeed than half his original number, but all of them carrying in their saddles a rich booty. Major Lushington again, learning that the other party had passed Poonah, made a march of fifty miles, came upon them while busied in cooking, and gave them so complete a defeat that only a few escaped. In Ganjam, too, they met with several surprises, in one of which Lieutenant Borthwick beat up their camp with only fifty men. They abandoned their attempt to penetrate into the territory of Cuttack; and learning that a plan was formed to intercept their return, they endeavoured to effect their object by a circuitous route through Bundelcund, in the course of which Colonel Adams and other officers inflicted upon them very severe losses.

Although this campaign had been in some measure successful and even triumphant, it afforded reason to apprehend that India could never be secure from the inroad of these marauders, so long as they should have a place of secure retreat. Upwards of 30,000 troops had been employed against them, a number adequate to a regular war on the greatest scale, and involving an immense expenditure; yet they had penetrated through a strong line of defence, while their subsequent failure was occasioned only by an undue security, which they would probably learn to correct. The permission granted by the government at home to prosecute the war against them was far from being unlimited; but the marquis trusted that the events which had occurred during this campaign, and the success which he hoped would still attend his measures, would secure for him the sanction of the company.

About the middle of the year 1817, the governor-general put in motion the most numerous and efficient army that had ever perhaps taken the field in India. Its entire amount is estimated at about 81,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry; of which 57,000 advanced from the Deccan and Guzerat, and 34,000 from Bengal through Hindostan Proper. To the corps from the Deccan were attached 13,000 irregular cavalry and to that from Bengal 10,000 of the same force, many of them